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PPCC ‘resignation list’ swells
AICC to form panel to contain rebellion
Quiet in Bathinda belt a relief for Bajwa
PIMS to reopen on Jan 7, docs to get dues soon
Poor cancer patients to get free treatment at 6 pvt hospitals
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Govt to tie up with PGI for de-addiction programmes
Design of Amritsar war memorial finalised, stone to be laid on Feb 15
2 Pak smugglers shot dead, Rs 20 cr heroin seized
ASI posted at Morinda suspended for extortion
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PPCC ‘resignation list’ swells
Jalandhar, January 4 Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh and Khadoor Sahib MLA Ramanjit Singh Sikki were the latest to revolt against PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa today. Apart from the two sitting legislators, former Kapurthala District Congress Committee chief Harjit Singh Parmar, Capt Harminder Singh and Hardev Singh Ladi also resigned from the PPCC today. All the leaders said they were “hurt” on being ignored by Bajwa. They said though they had quit the PPCC, they would continue to work as “loyal soldiers” of the party. All the party leaders, led by Capt Amarinder Singh loyalist Rana Gurjeet Singh, said in a joint statement that they had forwarded their resignation to the PPCC president as well as the party high command. Lashing out at Bajwa for having resorted to “favouritism and nepotism” while preparing the list, they said it was “now established beyond doubt that he had misled the high command”. They alleged Bajwa had also “lied” about having taken senior leaders of Punjab into confidence ahead of the appointments. Latest to join ‘Quit-Congress club’ *
Ramanjit Singh Sikki, Khadoor Sahib MLA * Harjit Singh Parmar, former Kapurthala District Congress Committee chief *
Col Babu Singh (retd), former Moga District Congress Committee president *
Amrik Singh Dhillon, three-time legislator from Samrala * Isher Singh Meharban, former minister in the Punjab Government; he has quit from the PPCC executive committee and has even threatened to quit the party Jagmeet’s brother Ripjit slams Bajwa
Beant’s daughter threatens fast
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AICC to form panel to contain rebellion
New Delhi, January 4 Sources said the process to set up a state disciplinary committee had been set into motion and the panel would be in place by a week. The said panel, it is learnt, could take note of the open rebellion by some state leaders. AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab Shakeel Ahmed said: “The disciplinary committee could take note of the fact that people are openly airing their grievances on an issue which can be resolved in the party forum. I have sought feedback from all quarters on the list and have advised to all concerned not to go public about their grievances lest the disciplinary committee takes note of such cases. We are available for redressal of grievances and people should come to us.” Ahmed’s statement came after PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa’s supporters met him today to highlight certain positives in the controversial list. The attempt was to back Bajwa in the midst of mounting opposition for his role in the PPCC constitution. Ahmed admitted: “I had some visitors today who were happy with the list.” The Tribune was the first to report yesterday that reconsideration of the list was possible. Rebellion on the issue continued today with former MP Jagmeet Brar reported to have petitioned party chief Sonia Gandhi saying he was not consulted on the list. Brar sent his wish list to the Congress president warning her of a rebellion in Malwa, Majha and Doaba if remedial measures were not taken. Brar in his mail to Sonia rooted for the retention of Gurdas Girdhar as president of Muktsar District Congress Committee on grounds that he was the sole Hindu face in the area. He also batted for ex-MLAs Vijay Saathi and Ripjeet Singh Brar (Jagmeet’s brother) as general secretaries. Another leader to write to Sonia today was MM Singh Cheema, permanent invitee in the new PPCC. In his letter, he said: “Loyal Congress men have been ignored in the new list whereas rebels and political turncoats have been rewarded. Also proper representation to Ramgarhias, Agarwals, and OBCs must be given.” Dissidents warned *
PPCC chief Partap Bajwa’s supporters meet AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab Shakeel Ahmed on Saturday *
Ahmed warns dissidents against making their concerns public * MM Singh Cheema, permanent invitee in the new PPCC, too, writes to Sonia alleging favouritism in the new list
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Quiet in Bathinda belt a relief for Bajwa
Bathinda, January 4 Though a stronghold of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who does not agree much with PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa on most of the issues, the region is quiet barring revolt by former MLA Mohinder Kumar Rinwa and Malkiat Singh, who had lost to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal from Jalalabad in the last assembly elections. The newly appointed office-bearers here have got down to work, holding meetings and boosting the morale of party workers in key districts of Bathinda, Muktsar, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Mansa, and Barnala. Though non-Congress loyalists have got key posts in some of the districts, it seems the degree of disappointment is far less as compared to other parts of the state. The Congress is hard-pressed for unity in this region as it aims to take on the might of sitting MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The unity or lack of discontent augurs well for Congress candidates (if chosen carefully) in the coming elections as the prospective Congress candidates can concentrate on voters, said a party leader. District presidents, including GS Tungwali in Bathinda and Bikram Mofar in Mansa, have started mobilising support for the party as there has not been much opposition against them. In Barnala, district president Paramjit Singh Mann is not a very well-known leader but so far, he too has not faced much discontentment against his appointment. Similar is the case in Muktsar and Faridkot. Party sources said in Ferozepur, the influence of sitting Congress MLA Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi over party workers was a major factor in keeping things under control. They said the district had earlier witnessed discontentment against Bajwa when a prominent leader, Avtar Singh Brar, joined the Akali Dal for being “sidelined” by the party high command.
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PIMS to reopen on Jan 7, docs to get dues soon
Jalandhar, January 4 It was decided that the institute will start holding classes from January 7 and the process of disbursal of pending salaries of employees will be started the same day. The decision was taken in view of a communication from the PIMS Medical and Education Charitable Society, to Additional Secretary, Health, claiming that the pending dues of doctors would be cleared by January 7. The society had also explained organisational changes made to strengthen its functioning and management. Another meeting of the governing body will be held on January 10 to discuss other issues related to the institute. When contacted, members of the private consortium of the institute said they were not called to the meeting nor were they aware about it. While members largely remained tightlipped about the organisational changes the society letter referred to, sources said the governing body had decided to induct seven new members into the PIMS management. Those present at the meeting included Medical Education and Research and Local Government Minister Anil Joshi, Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Advocate General Ashok Aggarwal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister KJS Cheema, Principal Secretary, Medical Education, and Research Vini Mahajan, Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar, Varun Roojam, Director, Medical Education, Tejbir Singh, Principal, Medical College, Amritsar, Karnail Singh and Director, PIMS, Vimal
Sikri. Fortis silent partner? *
A meeting of Akali MLAs was chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to discuss the issue in Chandigarh on Saturday. Sources said the leaders decided that Fortis would function as a silent partner of
PIMS.
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Poor cancer patients to get free treatment at 6 pvt hospitals
Chandigarh, January 4 Though these private hospitals — three in Ludhiana, two in Mohali and one in Jalandhar — were earlier too providing treatment to the poor patients under the Chief Minister Cancer Relief Fund, the patients were forced to shell out the difference in treatment costs (between the actual cost incurred on the treatment and the PGI rates approved by the state government). This meant that the poor patients were not getting treatment for free as was the idea behind the welfare scheme. Health officials said in order to remove this lacuna, the state government has now agreed to reimburse the treatment costs to these hospitals as per Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates. “The private hospitals were not willing to absorb the additional cost of treatment, including diagnostics, surgery and radio therapy, to the highly subsidised PGI rates prescribed by the government. We have revised the rates as per the CGHS rates, which the state government will pay. The patients will now get free treatment in these four private hospitals,” said Principal Secretary, Health, Vini Mahajan. Such patients will also get free treatment for cancer in the state-run medical colleges at Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot. Since a number of patients from the Malwa belt go to Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment and Research Institute at Bikaner, the state government has also empanelled this facility for cancer patients seeking treatment from this institute. Once the Advanced Cancer Centre at Bathinda gets commissioned, it will also provide free treatment for cancer. The registration charges, bed charges (for a maximum period of 10 days) and doctors’ consultation fee have also waived off. In case the patient has to be admitted for a longer duration (over 10 days), the private hospitals will be paid bed charges at the CGHS non-NABH rates only.
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Govt to tie up with PGI for de-addiction programmes
Chandigarh, January 4 Principal Secretary Vini Mahajan today said a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed in this connection. KK
Talwar, adviser to the state government, said the government may also have a tie up in the field of plastic surgery, neurology and paediatric departments.
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Design of Amritsar war memorial finalised, stone to be laid on Feb 15
Chandigarh, January 4 The memorial will be set in a compound spread over seven acres on the Amritsar-Attari road. The compound would consist of eight galleries, each dedicated to a section of the state’s military heritage, historical military personalities, wars and campaigns undertaken over the years. Brig Manjit Singh (Retd), Director, Sainik Welfare of the state, said a Delhi-based architectural firm had been shortlisted for the design and construction of the memorial and a sum of Rs 50 crore had been budgeted for the project. Often referred to as the sword arm of the nation, the state has a deep-rooted martial tradition and a rich military heritage that goes back several centuries. A number of notable military commanders and warriors have hailed from the state, with a tally of four Param Vir Chakra, 52 Maha Vir Chakra and 250 Vir Chakra besides other gallantry awards post-Independence. The monument *
The centre point of the memorial will be an edifice in the form of a 40-feet high sword. *
It will be set in a compound spread over seven acres on Amritsar-Attari
road.
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2 Pak smugglers shot dead, Rs 20 cr heroin seized
Ram Tirath (Amritsar), January 4 Ajay Tomar, Inspector-General (IG), Punjab frontier, said the jawans challenged the intruders after noticing some suspicious movement on the other side of the barbed border fence. Thereafter, the intruders started firing indiscriminately at the jawans. “The BSF then retaliated and killed two smugglers. Their third accomplice, however, remained near the border and retreated into Pakistani territory. We fired around 300 rounds in the encounter,” said Tomar. MF Farooqui, Director Inspector General, BSF, said 4 kg heroin worth Rs 20 crores, a pistol, two magazines, 15 live cartridges, four mobile phones and the bodies of two Pakistani smugglers were found after a dog squad was pressed into service this morning. The BSF has called a flag meeting to lodge their protest with the Satluj Rangers, Pakistan. Farooqi said the seized mobiles would be sent for forensic examination.
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ASI posted at Morinda suspended for extortion
Ropar, January 4 Besides suspending Davinder, the SSP has ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident. Earlier, Morinda Station House Officer (SHO) Harkirat Singh stated in the inquiry report that the complainant did not want any action in the case and he had lodged the complaint “out of apprehension” only.
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The BSF jawans killed two smugglers from Pakistan while a third escaped as they were trying to smuggle. The BSF claims to have seized 4 kg heroin worth Rs 20
crore, four mobile phones, a pistol and ammunition from the spot. The incident occurred near border outpost Gulgarh in Amritsar sector last night at around 10.30 pm.
* Rana Gurjeet Singh, MLA from Kapurthala who is a known loyalist of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh 
* Ripjit Singh Brar, younger brother of senior Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar and former MLA from Kotkapura, has termed Bajwa as “a corrupt politician who will sink the state Congress”. In a letter to Bajwa, Brar said under the circumstances when the state unit chief was facing many corruption charges, the party could not afford to have him at the helm ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Brar made a detailed mention of the shamlat land grab scandal allegedly involving Bajwa.
* Gurkanwal Kaur, former minister and daughter of the late Chief Minister Beant Singh, has threatened to go on fast-unto-death if she was not inducted as an office-bearer in the PPCC. She has also sought implementation of the 33 per cent women reservation formula in the party’s organisational set-up. “Despite being the daughter of a martyr like Beant Singh, the party chose to ignore me. My seniority too was not considered. Not just me, nobody from the Punjab Mahila Congress has been included in the PPCC.”